We could soon see an end to OLED burn-in – and here’s why
If you happen to have one of our picks for the best OLED TV, then burn-in may be a nagging problem stuck in your TV-appreciating mind; but there could soon be a miracle cure for this problem.
That’s because the University of Cambridge (via research published in Nature) has designed ultra-narrowband blue emitters that avoid the unwanted energy transfer current of blue OLEDs that can lead to burn-in.
Simply put, blue OLEDs, which are crucial components of RGB displays, are problematic for OLED TV longevity due to their construction and because they are the least stable sub-pixels. Energy transfer from a sensitizer component to an emitter module can affect the efficiency and stability of a blue OLED, both of which can lead to OLED aging and panel burn-in.
However, by using diodes that emit blue light along the narrow-band spectrum, with an emitting core insulated with alkylene bands, blue OLEDs can be produced that can suppress unwanted energy transfer, leading to better efficiency and stability. And by using this technique, the need for a sensitizer component with a high energy gap matrix (used to limit the energy transfer from the sensitizer to the emitter module) can be circumvented.
In short, this could lead to OLED panels that have a longer lifespan, are more resistant to burn-in and require less complex manufacturing. And eliminating unwanted energy transfer could make OLED displays use less energy, leading to TVs, phones and tablets with screens that are more energy efficient.
Naturally, these new blue OLEDs are in the research phase and should be included in future OLED panel production. But there is a lot of potential here to bring burn-resistant OLED TVs with a long lifespan to the market.
For what it’s worth, I’m using both an LG C1 OLED TV and the Alienware AW3423DWF monitor with a QD-OLED panel, both of which show no signs of burn-in. But these have smart features that help with pixel refresh and burn-in, while less advanced displays may not be as robust.
Continued research into the longevity and efficiency of OLED is still welcome, even if it takes a long time for breakthroughs to penetrate the consumer TV market. After all, even when it comes to mini-LED screens, it doesn’t seem like OLED screens are going away anytime soon.